Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Bakersfield, CA
Cooks, Fast Food in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area earn a median $41,480 a year — 34% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $34,321 take-home, or $2,860 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, fast food salary in Bakersfield, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,798
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,572
- Medicare (1.45%)$601
- California income tax$649
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$539
- Take-home pay$34,321
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Cooks, Fast Food pay by experience in Bakersfield, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,030 | $16.84 | $29,481 | $2,457 |
| 25th percentile | $36,240 | $17.42 | $30,389 | $2,532 |
| Median (50th) | $41,480 | $19.94 | $34,321 | $2,860 |
| 75th percentile | $42,330 | $20.35 | $34,959 | $2,913 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,190 | $22.69 | $38,603 | $3,217 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $41,480 buys in Bakersfield, CA
Prices in Bakersfield, CA are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 10% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, fast food's $34,321 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,020 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Bakersfield, CA has 1.8× the national concentration of cooks, fast food jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cooks, fast food, adjusted for cost of living
Bakersfield, CA ranks #3 of 174 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $47,220 | $38,625 | $34,979 |
| 2 | Merced, CA | $40,430 | $33,533 | $34,122 |
| 3 | Bakersfield, CA | $41,480 | $34,321 | $34,020 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $38,560 | $33,163 | $33,817 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $44,030 | $37,558 | $33,796 |
| 6 | Modesto, CA | $42,510 | $35,094 | $33,710 |
| 7 | Vallejo, CA | $44,450 | $36,550 | $33,694 |
| 8 | Hanford, CA | $41,280 | $34,171 | $33,629 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 174 metros →
Cooks, Fast Food salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $47,220
- Merced, CA — $40,430
- Modesto, CA — $42,510
- Vallejo, CA — $44,450
- Hanford, CA — $41,280
- Santa Rosa, CA — $43,840
- Visalia, CA — $39,750
- Chico, CA — $40,340
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, fast food make in Bakersfield, CA?
The median cooks, fast food salary in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area is $41,480 a year, or about $19.94 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,240 and $42,330.
What is a cooks, fast food’s take-home pay in Bakersfield, CA?
On the median $41,480 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $34,321 a year ($2,860 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,188 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Bakersfield, CA a good place to work as a cooks, fast food?
Pay here is 34% above the national median of $30,890. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,020 would in a typical U.S. city. Bakersfield, CA ranks #3 of 174 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, fast food afford rent in Bakersfield, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Bakersfield, CA is $1,140 a month ($1,483 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median cooks, fast food’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Bakersfield, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,580
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $43,910
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $39,470
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,800
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $37,140
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,090
- Dishwasher — $35,720
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $34,660
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,320
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,320
- Bartender — $34,320